Piano action



Aug 13, 1963 P. J. Ror-:HRlca 3,100,416

PxANo ACTION Filed April 18, 1960 rntuip J. nesting,

i and the like.

Sar

Y 3,100,416 i l PEANGACTN De Kath, lil., assigner to The Wurlitzer Company, Chicago, lll., a corporation 'of Ohiof Filed Apr. 18, 19,6%, Ser. No. 22,919 12Claims. (CLM-240) I'hisfinvention relates to new and useful improvements ments in actions of the drop or inverted sticker typef used as upright or so-called spinnet pianos.`

aimais ice 2 balance keypins 12. There is a forward rail 14 onjthe key bed carrying a front key pin 115'-,` j A key |16 is mounted in known fashion with respectto the balance or levelin piano actions, and more'partieularlyjto such improve- I vin instruments having 'stringslying in a vertical plane, suchA j The grand piano has usually beenrpreferred over upl.

vright or so-called spinnet pianos in that the touch and rapid repetition are generallyipreferredl by artists.V `1n the grand piano,'the strings 4lie in fa horizontal plane and the hammer travels substantiallyvertically so'that gravity acts to returnthe hammer fromitsadvanced striking position. ln =harnrne`r actions for stringsY lying in a vertical plane, theforce of gravity'usually has little eiiect'` except just 'prior to striking position and prior to reaching a position 'of' rest. vFor this reason, upright pianos are often somewhat` inadequate inpermittingrapid, repetitive striking of akey prior to complete'release ofiinger pressure thereon. llnother words, in such instruments, often the ham- V mer and jack are not properly positioned for rapid repetition of the key action. There have been efforts to correct this inadequacy in upright type pianos but often the corrective steps have yresulted in sacriiicing the desired touch ofthe action., f

" Vf .liiith the above in mind, one ofthe principal objects of the present invention is to improve the permissiverepetitive keyaction in a-n upright type piano-without sacrificing the desiredftouch of the action. v

Another object of the invention is toprovidefran action of the above type wherein thegconventional .bridle tape pear.

ling pins 112 andthe front key pin 15. The rearo'r inner g end of thekey 16 has projecting therefrom `a spoon 1'7',`

which ser-ves to actuate the sticker as will presently ap- Alternatively, reference being had to FIG. 3, the inner end of the key may be recessed to provide aprojecting portion '18 serving to actuate fthe sticker'aswill innerl bel described below. There is a felt 19 on which the end of the key is positionediwhen at rest.

` .The sticker 20 is of the drop or inverted type' and is l threadedly connected at its upper end to a screw 21 havingvva screw head '.22 and washer23 engaging an auxiliary Whip 24. As illustrated in FIG.v 2, the auxiliary whip 24 includes a rearward aper'tured lug 25, which is vpivotally connected to an auxiliary whip .flange '26 secured t-o a iixed auxiliary rail 27. Thelopposite 'en'd `of -the auxiliary whip 24J-is provided with a longitudinal slot 28 openingl'at the forward end thereof yand through which the screw'21ma`y be 'assembled with the auxiliary Whip.'

The washer V23 is seated within a recess 29 in the top andfwire aswell as the conventional Ijack spring are elimi` nated but with'maintenance of the desired touch and ,permissive rapid repetition ofthe key.ffz'etion.y

yAtiurther object of the invention is to provide an action of therabovetype wherein the jack finds itsdesired` posi-V tion in engagement withthe hammer knuckle prior tothe hammer reaching a position of rest so that depression Vof a key may be rapidly repeated without. the necessity of the key returning to its fully released position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an action of the above type wherein the hammer and jack Y springs are relatively coordinated and positioned to effect the aforesaid desired action..

A still further object lofthe invention is (to provide an -action substantially of the above .type wherein the coop- :erative abutting engagement between the vjack and r ham-` mer knuckle is such as to substantially minimizethe transmission of noise during operation of the-action.

The invention `still further aims ltorprovide'an action substantially of the above typewhich is relatively `com- `surface of the auxiliary whip. The under surfaceV of the forward endA of the auxiliary whip carries a felt 30 with 'which the spoon 17 is in engagement for initiating operation of the action. It is to be noted that the screw head 22 is readily accessible from above for adjustment of the sticker 20 with respect to the auxiliary whip 24 and thus eliminates the necessity for a capstan screw usually carried on the adjacent end lof a key. A felt 31 is dis- Y posed betweenthe auxiliary rail 27 and theinner end portion of the auxiliarylwhip 24' to limit downward travel of the auxiliary whip and to hold the parts in normal positionI even When the keyboard is removed.

VThe lower end of the sticker 20 is pivoted, as at 312, to theforward free end of the main whip 3'which, lin turn,

"fis pivoted, askat 314, toa Whip ange 35 lcarried by the main' rail 36.y Vlnwardly of the whip pivot 34, the whip 40 j carriesa spoon 37 to actuate .the damper head 38 against theaction of a damper spring 39 in known manner. y

` Intermediate the pivots 32, 34, the whip 33 `carries an upwardlyl extending jack flange 42 to which a jack 43 is pivoted, as at 44. The jack is provided with a forwardly extending abutment 45 carrying a felt 46 enga geable with ar'egulating rail button-47 during the action to pivot the jack away from the hammer knuckle as will be described below. The button 47 is threadedly carried by a regulating rail 48 and is adjustable from above by means of a `pact irl-,its composite assembly but wherein theseveral n parts are readily accessible for adjustment, replacement l The above and other objects of the invention Iwill in part lbe obvious and will be hereinafter more `tully pointed out. i .i V- 'In the accompanying drawing: 1 A FIG. `1 is an end view of theaction at rest but with the varioustxed rails shown in section; Y

FIGQZ is e5 an enlarged perspective view of the auxiliary 3 is a fragmentary end view showinganodied Y form of interconnection between the auxiliary whipya-nd al key.

Referring tothe accompanying dra-wing, the key bed 10 carries a balance tailll having screw-type adjustable v inthe jack 43.

tool engaging formation 49. The regulating rail 43 has [secured thereto a hairpin type jack spring 51 having a curved free end portion riding in 4a longitudinal recess 52 y:The main rail 36 carries a knuckle flange 55 to which is pivoted a hammer knuckle 56. vThe knuckle k56 is provided with a downwardly convex recess 57 in which is secured va felt 60 over which a buekskin 61 is positioned.

'- In order to reduce noise instant to vlactuation of the knuckle by the jack, the felt 6i) is secured 'in thelrecess 51 by one Vor more spots of glue 58. Preferably, the glue spots 58 are spaced so that the felt 60 is unsecured in theregion encountering the effort ofthe jack inactuatingthe knuckle 56; Without any glue barrier in this region, it has Ibeen lfound that the noise of the actionlis materially reduced.

"The knuckle 56 carries Ia forwardlyprojecting -catcher j Y stem 63 to the end of which is `secured va -catcherfll fori co'Operation with the backcheck 54.

fmer headA 67 at the free end thereof. The hammer arm 66'engages a felted hammer rail 68 inthe position of rest.

The knuckle 56 carries 'ahammer arm 66 with al ham- `'Patentes aug. is, 1963 Y The whip 33 also vcarries a :backcheck ,i f wire 53 `which has secured to the upper `end thereof a ybackcheck 54.

. Y 3 The spring rail;-` 71 carries a knuckle spring 72 with the lower free end thereof engaging the knuckle to urge the same toward the position of rest.- A string S is illustrated as being mounted in more or less conventional manner.

In operation, the key Y16 is struck to elevate the inner end thereof and this elevates the auxiliary whip 24 and -the main Whip 33 through the connection provided by the -V stickerZ. With such upward pivotal movement of the whip 33, the jack 43 is moved upwardly and by reason of its engagement with thel knuckle 56, the hammer is irnvpelled toward the string but just prior to engagement bev tween the hammer and string, the felted abutment 4S en- Vlgages the 'button 47 toV pivot the jack 43 away from the knuckle 56 and against thepressure of the jack spring 51.

-During this upward movement of the whip 33, the back- `check A54`is moved in unison therewith and the spoon 37 `urges the damper 38 away fronrfthe string and against the y action of th-e damper spring 39.V After striking, the ham- .mer -67 rebounds under influence of the hammer spring 72 to a position for checking between the backc-heck 54and the catcher 64 until the key is released. At this time, the

` whip 33 begins toifall toward the position ofrest and the jack spring 51 pivots the jack 43 into Vwedgingengagelment with the felted knuckle 56. The spring S1 is weaker than would be a jack spring positioned between the abutment-.45 and Whip 33 but the desired mechanical advantage is obtained with the end of the spring 51 vengaging the jack 43 near the free upper end of the jack so that the appended claims.

jack and knuckle may -be positioned for repetitive' actionl i when the key has returned only` about half -way to the normal position of rest. The touch is thus maintained Ato approximatethat of a grand piano action in that a heavy or stiff jack spring is not required. With the lighter Vjack spring, return of the jack may be slowed up slightly but withthe accurately curved buckskin 61, the jack will iind its position relative tothe knuckle by being wedged along the bucksk'in surface in time to permit rapid repetitive key action. With this structure, it is possible for the hamlmerto rebound a slightly greater distance before A,checking and the. position of checking maybe more stable' upon compression of the` felton the -backcheckL- Asiwill be appreciated, theprincip al adjustments m-ay be made from above.- Thus, thescrew 21 can rbe adjusted from above with respect to the sticker and this can be accomplished with the keyboard removed since the felt 31 Y will maintain the auxiliary whip 24 vin proper position.

Likewise, the adjustment of the button 47 can be accomplishedfrom above by a' tool engaging the tool formation 49. In'this connection, it is to be noted that the button 47 -has a rounded surface engageable with the felt 46. Thus,

the depression formed in the felt 46 during use remains in a constant position relative to the adjustment of the button vso that the adjustment is `only a function of the screwthread. In instances where the adjustable button is itself felted, the packing ofthe felt is off-center so that when the felted button is rotated for adjustment, the off-center packed portion is turned andthe adjustment necessarily is `afunctionfof the off-center position of fthe packed feltand the screwthread. With the present arrangement, extremely iine and accurate adjustment results.

The elements 12 surrounding the balance key pins 12 and between the key 16 and balance rail 11 comprise flange'stixed on the keypins 12. Thus, key levelling -is effected from above the keyboard by threading the screws 12 in or out, whereby to raise or lower the ilanges 12. Aswill be understood, the key pins 12 and the balance rail l11 are disposed within the piano case (not shown).

Thus, it willl be seen that the 'adjust-ments of the piano L actions, comprising the balance key pins 12, thesticker 20 and -screw 21, and the regulating rail button 47'all are adjustable from above, whereby itis unnecessary to reach Y. the action from an inconvenient underside location.-

' l While onek form of the invention has been shown for purposes. of illustration, it is ,to be Aclearly understood that variousV Changes in the details of construction and arl 4 v Y rangement of parts may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of therinvention as-set forth inthe I claim:

1. An action for a piano with strings dispo-sed sub-YV stantially vertically; [and comprising a key havingrinner .amd outer ends, a depending sticker disposed inwardly of jthe inner end of the'key, an auxiliary whip, xed frame means, means pinotallyV mounting said auxiliary whip on said xed fname means at a position spaced in;

ward-ly rom the inner end iof the key Iwith said auxiliary extending toward said inner end of said key, said 1 auxiliary 'whip supporting the upper end of said sticker l with the louter end-of said auxiliary whip disposed closely adjacent the inner end of said key, mutually interengaging means ton the auxiliary whip land key -for actuating 1 the sticker inresponse to key depression, a main `whip pivotally mounted yon a fixed @frame member andpivotally; A connected to the lower end of said sticker, a .p-ivoted4 hammer and arm assemblyincl-uding'a knuckle, a jack pivotally connected `to said lwhip and engageable with said knuckle dor impe-lling the hammer toward striking position, jack spring means mounted on said iixedr frame means and bearing on said jack above its lpivotal connes# tion with said main whip for positioning-the-Vjack foren,-

:gagemen-t with the knucklel during return lof the action toward a position of rest, a depending stop button carr ried 4by said ,iixed frame means land engageable .with an i abutment portion on-said jack for disengaging the rtree end tof the jack from saidknuclcle and against the actionV of said jack spring means during movement .of the acl tio-nl towardsstriking position, a catcher associated with the hammer land arm assembly, a backcheck carried by said whip for cooperation 'with saidcatcher, and hammer spring means ringing the pivoted hammer and armfas-V sembly towardfa-positilon of rest. e

2. An action for a piano as claimed in claim l, whereinthe depending sticker is fixed against .rotation abou-t its own axis and includes a-screw element projecting Vthrough .theY auxiliary whip and engageoble thereab-ove der adjust# ment. v

3. An action for apiano as claimed in claim 2, wherein the auxiliaryiwhipi is provided with la `longitudinal and vertical -recess opening at the outer end thereof `facilil tating assembly and disassembly of the sticker and screw 6. An action-for a piano as claimed in claim l, Wherein the interengaging meansfcomprise a felt on the biot-tomI surface of the outer end of the auxiliary whip, and recess means in theinner `end of the key providing .an offset shoulder engagealble with the said felt. f

7. An action ior-:apiano as 'claimed in claim f1, 'where-v in there is provided a felt :between the inner end of the' Y auxiliary whip and the supporting xedframe member for maintaining the laction in position upon removal of the keyboard.

8. action for a piano asset forth in claim l'whereirl-said knuckle has a downwardly opening recess therein,

and a felt'dispfosed in said recess1 for engagement by said jack, said fel-t being secured to the knuckle at limited and spaced points to reduce noise. Y j 9. An action for a piano as claimed in claimfS, where-V Ain the points at Iwhich the felt is secured to the knuckle are removed from the area of contact between the felt and the jack.-

10. An action for la piano as set forth in claim l wherein saidrdepending stop button is vprovided with a smooth,

rounded runder surface, and wherein the engageable abutment portion on said jack has afelt thereon for engagement with said stop lbuttc'm smooth, rounded under sufrface.

11. An action for a piano with strings disposed substantially yentically; and comprising a key, having inner and outer ends, a depending sticker lwith means adjacent the rapper end thereof for operative engagement with the key, xed frame means, a wh-ipl having inner and outer ends and pivotally mounted on said xed iframe means Y 'with its outer end [pivotallly connected to :the lower end of said sticker, apivloted hammer and arm assembly inolfuding a knuckle, a jackr pivotally connected to said 'whip intermediate the ends thereof and including an abutment, jack spring means mounted on said fixed means and bearing on said jack above its pivotal connection with the whip or positioning the jack for engagement with the knuckle during return of the action Itoward, rest position, a stop button carried by said xed frame means and cooperablewith said abutment for disengaig-ng the zree end off said jack from said knuckle andv againsty the ac- 20 of said jack spring means during movement of the action .toward striking posit-ion, a catcher associated with the hammer and arm assembllyya backcheck carried by said wlhip for cooperation with said catcher in checking said jack'spring means to oonstitufte substantially the sole mechanical torce for restoring the hammer and arm movement of the hammer and arm assembly, and hammer spring means urging fthe pivoted hammer and arm assembly toward a position `of rest tand coordinated with assembly toward rest position, the hammea spring means and the jack springmeans being relatively coordinated in spring diorce :to permit the jack to assume its operative References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,999,914 Nylund Apr. 30, 1935 2,073,463 Dasenbnook Mar. 9, 1937 2,324,037 Socin Ju'ly 13, 1943 2,445,512 Brown July 20, 1948 2,501,529 Markley Mar. 21, 1950 Y 

1. AN ACTION FOR A PIANO WITH STRINGS DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY; AND COMPRISING A KEY HAVING INNER AND OUTER ENDS, A DEPENDING STICKER DISPOSED INWARDLY OF THE INNER END OF THE KEY, AN AUXILIARY WHIP, FIXED FRAME MEANS, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID AUXILIARY WHIP ON SAID FIXED FRAME MEANS AT A POSITION SPACED INWARDLY FROM THE INNER END OF THE KEY WITH SAID AUXILIARY WHIP EXTENDING TOWARD SAID INNER END OF SAID KEY, SAID AUXILIARY WHIP SUPPORTING THE UPPER END OF SAID STICKER WITH THE OUTER END OF SAID AUXILIARY WHIP DISPOSED CLOSELY ADJACENT THE INNER END OF SAID KEY, MUTUALLY INTERENGAGING MEANS ON THE AUXILIARY WHIP AND KEY FOR ACTUATING THE STICKER IN RESPONSE TO KEY DEPRESSION, A MAIN WHIP PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON A FIXED FRAME MEMBER AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE LOWER END OF SAID STICKER, A PIVOTED HAMMER AND ARM ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A KNUCKLE, A JACK PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID WHIP AND ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID KNUCKLE FOR IMPELLING THE HAMMER TOWARD STRIKING POSITION, JACK SPRING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID FIXED FRAME MEANS AND BEARING ON SAID JACK ABOVE ITS PIVOTAL CONNECTION WITH SAID MAIN WHIP FOR POSITIONING THE JACK FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE KNUCKLE DURING RETURN OF THE ACTION TOWARD A POSITION OF REST, A DEPENDING STOP BUTTON CARRIED BY SAID FIXED FRAME MEANS AND ENGAGEABLE WITH AN ABUTMENT PORTION ON SAID JACK FOR DISENGAGING THE FREE END OF THE JACK FROM SAID KNUCKLE AND AGAINST THE ACTION OF SAID JACK SPRING MEANS DURING MOVEMENT OF THE ACTION TOWARDS STRIKING POSITION, A CATCHER ASSOCIATED WITH THE HAMMER AND ARM ASSEMBLY, A BACKCHECK CARRIED BY SAID WHIP FOR COOPERATION WITH SAID CATCHER, AND HAMMER SPRING MEANS URGING THE PIVOTED HAMMER AND ARM ASSEMBLY TOWARD A POSITION OF REST. 